Dust-conveyer for cars.



No. 629,346. Patented July 25, I899.

- c. B. EVRIDGE.

DUST CDNVEYER FOR CABS.

{Application filed Oct. 29, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet L ("0' ModeL) w: new: PEIEHS so, VHO'TG-UTHO" WASHINGYOH, a. c.

I Patented My 25.1899.

I (Application filed Oct. 29, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-She'd 2.

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No. 629,346. Patented July 25, I899.

c. B. EVBIDGE.

DUST CONVEYER FOR CARS.

(Application med Oct. 29, 1898.) (No Model.) V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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CHARLES BENJMAN EVRIDGE, F PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR or oNn= UNITED STATES "PAT T OFFICE.

HALF TO JOSEPH P. YEISER, OF SAME PLACE.

DUST-CONVEYER FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,346, dated. July 25, 1899.

' Application as October 29, 1898'. Serial No. 594,978. (No an.)

.To al; whom. may concern:

1] 3 e it known that I, CHARLES BENJMAN Ev- RIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah, in the county of McOracken and State of Kentucky, have inventeda new and useful Dustlonveyer for Railroad-Oars,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dust-conveyers, and particularly to an apparatus adapted for at- O .tachment to and usein connection'with sleeping and chair cars, passenger coaches, bag.

gage, mail, and express cars, and also suburban street-cars and trailers and other vehicles of analogous construction running at a speed of six miles or over per hour, where the movement is liable to raise the dust at or near the truck-wheels, and particularly to vehicles adapted to run in either direction or with either end foremost.

The object of the invention is to providea simple and efficient construction and arrangement of parts adapted to be applied with facility to the frame of a vehicle and having erative relation with the conductors or main 5 pipes by which the dust after being received by the apparatus is conveyed rearwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of coupling the conductors or main pipes at the adjacent o ends of adjoining cars.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed 'out in the appended 5 claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a side view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention applied in the operative position to a car. Fig. 2 is an endview of the same. Fig.3 is a plan viewofthe apparatus detached. Fig. a detail view, partly in section, of the coupling whereby the contigu ous ends ofthe main pipe areconnected. Fig. 5 isaface view of the male coupling member. .Fig. 6 is a similar view of the female coupling member. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View of the main pipe or conveyer on the plane indicated by the line 7 7 of Fig. 3 to show the damper. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the plane indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the hangerrod-sup poi-tin g arm. Fig. 10 is a detail transverse section of the supporting-arm on the 'line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the construction illustrated l designates a main pipe or conveyer, one of which is preferably arranged on each side of the car, coach, or other vehicle to beequipped with the attachment embodying myin vention and at intervals this main pipe or convey er, of which the extremities are located at opposite endsof the car, is provided with lateral inlets 2, arranged in pairs and inclining in- Wardly, with the members of each pair disposedwith their open ends facing each other. For instance, when the apparatus is designed for attachment to a two-truck car the main. pipe or conveyor is provided near its extremities with terminal branches or inlets which face inwardly, and hence are located beyond the outer ends of and facing the trucks, and also with intermediate branches er-inlets disposed between theinnerends of the trucks and facing ou twardly or toward the same, whereby in either direction of movement of the car two of the inlets of each main pipe or conveyor face forwardly, while the 0 other two face rearwardly, and the forwardlyfacing inlets are disposed, respectively, in rear of the trucks of the car. The preferred means for maintaining these main pipes or conveyers in their operative positionswith 5 relation to the car-.body consist of stirrups 3, located at suitable intervals to insure a firm attachment.

In connection with thepair of inainpipes or conveyers above described are'terminal interminate outside of the planes of the wheels,

as clearly indicated in Fig. Each intake or scoop, contiguous to its mouth, is divided to form divergent branches 6, which are reduced toward their extremities and are adapted to be fitted into the transversely-opposite lateral inlets or branches 2 of the main pipes or conveyers to form slip-joints, whereby the detachment of an intake or scoop may be accomplished by sliding the same toward the truck adjacent to which it is located. To prevent the accidental displacement of an intake or scoop when in operative relation with the main pipes or conveyers, I employa central hanger-rod 7, extending through a central opening in the lower lip or wall of the mouth of the intake, said lower Wall at the point of engagement of said hanger-rod being reinforced by a strip or bar 8 and said rod being fitted above and below the plane of said lower lip or wall with adjustable nuts 9 and 10 and below the lower end with a jamnut 11. The upper end of the hanger-rod is constructed to form a ring or eye 12 for engagement with a supporting-arm 13, formed as an extension of a bracket 14:, secured to the frame of the car or coach by means of bolts 15 or the equivalents thereof, and mounted upon said supporting-arm is a pivotal latch 16, having an abrupt inner extremity to bear against the eye 12 and normally held in operative relation there with by means of a latchactuating spring 17. As the extremities of the branches of the scoop or intake are slipped into the seats provided therefor by the lateral inlets or branches of the main pipes or conveyers the ring or eye of the hanger-rod may be slipped over the free end of the bracket-arm 13 to repress the latch, and when said ring or eye passes the inner end of said latch the latter will be returned to its normal position by the expansion of the actuating-spring to lock the hanger-rod in place. The adjustment of the mouth of the scoop or intake with relation to the plane of the car-body, and hence with relation to the plane of the tracks and road bed, may be accomplished by the suitable manipulation of the nuts 9, 10, and 11.

The main pipe'or conveyor is preferably elongated slightly in horizontal cross-section or is approximately elliptical, the proportion of the diameters which I prefer to employ being approximately eight to five; but contiguous to its extremities the pipe or conveyer is reduced laterally and increased vertically to produce a terminal which is round and has a diameter of approximately six and one-half inches, whereby with a main pipe or conveyer of which the body portion is constructed with horizontal and vertical diameters of respectively eight and five inches the terminals 'will be round and constructed with a diameter of six and one-half inches, or a mean between the major and minor diameters of the crosssection of the body portion of the pipe, to preserve approximately a uniform crosssec tional area of the main pipe or conveyer throughout its length, while under the carbody the vertical dimension is reduced to avoid excessive downward projection thereof.

Securely fastened, as by solder or the equivalent thereof, to each extremity of a main pipe or conveyer is preferably the female member 18 of a coupling, the same having a seat or cavity for the reception ofthe threaded projection 19 of the male member 20, and attached to said male member of the coupling is a yielding or flexible conductor 21, of rubber or equivalent material, to connect the coupling at the extremity of a main pipe or conveyer on one car with the coupling at the adjacent extremity of the main pipe or coupling of an adjoining car. The contiguous'or contacting faces of the projection and seat or cavity of the coupling members are threaded to interlock, and in order to facilitate the operation of engaging the coupling members said interlocking faces are preferably mutilated to provide alternate engaging and smooth surfaces, each surface being equal to onesixth of the diameter of the engaging face of which it forms a part. Hence when it is desired to engage the members of the coupling it is necessary simply to bring them together axially, with the smooth-surfaced portions of one member in alinement with the threaded portions of the other, and then relatively turn said members through onesixth of a revolution to interlock the threaded surfaces; also, by employing threaded engaging surfaces the pitch of the threads serves to snugly unite the parts and insure a tight joint between the members of the conveyer. To prevent accidental disengagement of the members of the coupling, I employ a latch which, as illustrated in the drawings, may consist of a tongue 22, pivoted, as at 23, to one of the coupling members between parallel ears 24 and adapted to occupy at its free end the position between parallel lugs 25 on the other coupling member, said latch-tongue being yieldingly held in its engaging position by gravity or other equivalent force. Any suitable means for securing the flexible conductor to the detachable member of the coupling may be employed, such as rivets 26.

The operation of the apparatus, as will be clearly understood, involves the reception by the mouths of the forwardly-facing scoops or intakes of any dust which may be caused by the rapid forward movement of the trucks over the road-bed, and this dust, passing upwardly and rearwardly through the branches of the scoops, enters the main pipe or conveyer and thence passes rearwardly throughout the length of the car or of the train and is discharged at the rear end of the rearmost car. In order, however, that those scoopsor intakes which face rearwardly may be closed when desiredto prevent deflection of the current of air passing rearwardly through the main pipes or conveyers, I provide each main pipe adjacent to each branch or inlet with a slide-valvebr damper 27, arranged in contact with the inner surface of the main pipe adjacent to the point of communication therewith of said branch or inlet and fitted at its upper and lower edges in guides 28, consistingof clips secured to the inner surface of the main pipe, said valve or damper being capable of sliding movement to cover and ing device. In the construction illustrated this locking device consists of a-handle 31,

, pivotally mounted upon thestud 29 and provided with a cam-faced head 32 for frictional contactwith the exterior surface of the main pipe or conveyer and yieldingly held in'such contact by gravity, due to the weight of the outer portion of the handle or to any other equivalent yielding force. or damper, it is necessary simply tograsp and slightly elevate the connected handle sufficientlyto relieve the frictional contact of the cam with the surface of the main pipe,

and thus slidethe'valve or damper in the desired direction. i

It will be under-stood, furthern1ore,thatvarious changes in the form, proportiomand the minor details of construction may be.re-

what I the combination of a main pipe or conveyer extending longitudinally of the car, transversely oppositely facing scoops or intakes communicating with said 'main pipe or conveyer, and means for cutting off communication betweenfthe rearwardly-facing scoops or intakes and the main pipe or conveyer, substantially as specified. v j

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main pipe or conveyer provided with branches, valves for cutting oil" communication between said branches and the main pipe or conveyer, and oppositelyfacing scoops or intakes communicating with said branches, substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatusnof the class described, the combination with a main pipe or conveyer, of transversely-disposed scoops orintakes arranged adjacent to the trucks and communicating with the main pipe or conveyer, said scoops or intakes extending terminally outside oft-he planes of the truck- Wheels, substantially as specified.

To adjust a valve 4. In an apparatus'of the class'desc ribed, the combination with'a main pi peer-conveyer extending longitudinally of acar, and trans versely-dispos'ed scoops or intakes, com municating with said main pipe' or conveyer, and

arranged in pairs, with the members disposed v at opposite ends of each truck andfacing in f oppositedirections, substantially as speci-v 5.- vIn an apparatus'of the class described, the combination of main pipes or conveyer-s extending longitudinally of a car and pro-- vided atin tervals with oppositely-facing lateral branches or inlets, and transversely-disposed scoops or intakes having branches fitted in said branches or inlets of the main'pipes or conveyers, substantially as specified.

6.,In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of' longitudinally-disposed mainpipes or conveyers having lateralbranches or inlets, transversely:-disposed scoops or intakes'h'aving rearwardly-extendin'g branches removably fitted respectively in opposite branehes'orinlets of the main pipe,

and means for preventing forward'displacement of said scoops or intakes, substantially as specified. v

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of longitudinally-disposed main pipes or couveyers having lateral branches or inlets, transversely disposed scoopsor intakes having rearwardly-extending branches removably fitted respectively in opposite branches or inlets of the main pipe, and means for preventing forward displacement of said scoops or intakes, consisting of hanger-rods depending from a supporting- .frame and attachedto the-scoops or intakes,

substantially as specified.

8.v In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of main pipes or conveyers disposed longitudinally of a car and provided with lateral branches orinlets, transverselydisposed scoops or intakes having branches removablyfitted respectivelyin said branches or inletsof the main pipes or conveyers, fixed supporting-arms located respectively above the scoops or intakes, and hanger-rods extending upwardly from the scoops or intakes and detacha'bly'engaged with said supportsupporting-arms located respectively above the scoops or intakes, hanger-rods extending upwardly from said scoops or intakes and engaged with said supporting-arms, and lock- 'ing devices carried by said supporting-arms for'securing the hanger-rods in operative re- "lation therewith, substantially as specified.

- v1O. In an apparatus of the class described,

, the combination of main pipes or conveyer-s disposed longitudinally of a car and provided with lateral branches or inlets, transverselydisposed scoops or intakes having branches removably fitted respectively in said branches or inlets of the main pipes or con veyers, fixed supporting-arms located respectively above the scoops or intakes, hanger-rods extending upwardly from the scoops or intakes and provided at their upper ends with eyes or rings engaging said supporting-arms, and locking devices forpreventing accidental disengagement of said eyes or rings from the supporting-arms, substantially as specified.

11'. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of main pipes or conveyers disposed longitudinally of a car and provided with lateral branches orinlets, transverselydisposed scoops or intakes having branches removably fitted respectively in said branches or inlets of the main pipes or conveyors, fixed supporting-arms located respectively above the scoops or intakes, hangersrods extending upwardly from the scoops or intakes, and

provided with eyes or rings engaged with said supporting-arms, and spring-actuated latches carried by said supporting-arms for en gaging the rings or eyes to maintain the hanger-rods in operative relation with the supportingarms, substantially as specified.

12; In an apparatus of the class described,

thecombina-tion of longitudinal main pipes or-conveyers elongatedhorizontally in crosssection, and provided with tubular terminals and spacedjlateral branches or inlets, transverse scoops or intakes having branches connected with said branches or inletsiof the main pipes or conveyors, and terminal couplin gs for connecting the contiguous terminals of the main-pipes or conveyers on adjoining cars, substantially as specified.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a car, of longitudinallydisposed main pipes or conveyors provided at intervals with lateral branches or inlets, and transversely-(iisposed.scoops or intakes arranged in pairs respectively contiguous to the car-trucks and respectively facing the same, each scoop or intake being terminally arranged outside of the planes of the truckwheels, and having branches communicating respectively with the opposite branches'or inlets of the mainpipesvorconveyers, sub stantially as specified.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a car, of longitudinallydisposed main pipes or conveyors provided at intervals with lateral branchesor inlets, and transversely-disposed scoops or intakes arranged in pairs respectively contiguous to the car-trucks and respectively facing the same, each scoop or intake being terminally arranged outside of the planes of the truckwheels and with the lower wall or lip of its mouth depressed between the planes of the truck-wheels, and having branches communicating respectivelywith the transversely opposite branches or inlets of the main pipes or conveyers substantiallyas specified.

15. In an apparatus of'the class described,

the combination with a main pipe or conveyer, and means for collecting and deflect- .ing dust into said pipe or convcyer, of a liexible conductor,a coupling having male and female interlocking members provided respectively with interlocking faces consisting of mutilated threaded surfaces, said members being attached respectively to the contiguous extremities of the main pipe or conveyer and the flexible conductor, and adjustable means consisting of a latch 22 on one member, and

spaced cars 25 on the other member for-securing said members against relative rotary movement, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my OWIILI have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES BENJMAN EVRIDGE.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE BALLoWE,

J. V. GREIF. 

